The Visegrad Group of countries should become an innovation hub if they are to boost their economic power, a Hungarian official said on Thursday. Istvan Ijgyarto, state secretary for science and culture, told a V4 conference of university heads that an innovation-based economy together with the right education system was the strongest driver of competitiveness, and only innovative and digital V4 countries would boost their economic strength. Only countries that manage to reduce the technological gap between the eastern and western parts of Europe will thrive, he said. He noted that the region is home to many highly trained professionals, and V4 countries enjoy many advantages and are ideally placed to benefit from international exchanges of knowledge.